Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Surah Albaqarah (58)

Salam,


Salam,

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَـٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا

وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ

وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ




And remember We said: ”Enter this town, and eat of the plenty therein as you wish; but enter the gate with humility, in posture and in words; and We shall forgive you your faults and increase the portion of those who do good. (Surah 2:58)


There is nothing better in description of the above verse than by God’s words at Surah 31:18

“And swell not your cheek for pride at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for God love not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass.”


Asar

Sunday, February 20, 2011

(Surah 2:2) Al Baqarah /The Cow

Salam,

Al Baqarah (The Cow)

ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

(2) This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah;

If you had notice, the Arabic words “zalika” normally mean “that” but have you wonder why most of the English translation on the above word mean “this”?

Surah Baqarah (2) “zalikalkitab” should mean “that is the Book” instead of “This is the Book”.

If you check in the website “Tanzil.net” there are 13 English translations only two translators Arberry and Qaribullah&Darwish translated the word correctly as “that is the Book”; and one translator Sarwar translated it in a different way as “There is no doubt that this Book” while the rest translated it as “This is the Book”.

There are sure to be some reasons why most of the translators take “zalika” to mean “this” rather than “that”. The obvious reason maybe they follow the views of the majority of the Muslim scholars who do not believe there was any physical book at the time of Prophet Muhammad. As such it is not an easy task to explain when it is said: “That is the Book” which insinuate the presence of a physical item which can be pointed at when the belief is otherwise.

Nevertheless the Quran support there is a Book during the lifetime of the Prophet.

And they say: “Tales of the ancients, which he has caused to be written: and they are dictated before him morning and evening.” (Surah 25:5)

Asar